Pioneers of Television

The four-part series examines the people who left their imprint on sitcoms, late-night, variety and game shows in the early days of the medium. The program features interviews with legendary stars, including Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Art Linkletter, Andy Griffith, Betty White, Phyllis Diller, Jim Nabors, Marlo Thomas, Jonathan Winters, Ed McMahon and Merv Griffin. Using never-before-seen images and showcasing timeless clips, the documentary series examines the entertainers that provided the classic scenes that still amuse us today.

Pioneers of Television Previous Broadcasts

Superheroes (Episode #303H)

KQED 9: Tue, Jan 29, 2013 -- 8:00 PM

"Superheroes" crosses many eras: "Superman" in the 1950s, "Batman" in the '60s, "Wonder Woman" and "The Incredible Hulk" in the '70s and "The Greatest American Hero" in the '80s. The episode features in-depth interviews with Adam West, Burt Ward, Julie Newmar, Lynda Carter, Lou Ferrigno, William Katt and others. It also includes comments from Robert Culp, about his show "The Greatest American Hero, " recorded just days before he passed away.

Repeat Broadcasts:

KQED Life: Tue, Jan 29, 2013 -- 1:00 AM

Funny Ladies (Episode #301H)

KQED World: Mon, Jan 28, 2013 -- 1:00 PM

This episode features the first standup comediennes to appear on television - legends such as Phyllis Diller and Joan Rivers. It also looks at Lucille Ball's breakthrough on "I Love Lucy" and the sitcom stars who followed, including Mary Tyler Moore, Betty White and Marla Gibbs. The episode covers television's most enduring variety star, Carol Burnett, and features interviews with contemporary actresses including Tina Fey and Margaret Cho.

Late Night (Episode #102&)

KQED World: Mon, Jan 28, 2013 -- 12:00 PM

The stories of Steve Allen, Jack Paar and Johnny Carson headline this episode about the formative years of late-night television. Merv Griffin also emerges as a key player on the late-night scene. (His interview for Pioneers was his last before passing away.) Regis Philbin offers revelations about his years as a late-night sidekick (to Joey Bishop). Dick Cavett and Arsenio Hall also discuss their years in the mix, and Sigourney Weaver offers personal details about her father, Pat - the inventor of "Tonight." The episode is peppered with dozens of never-before-seen clips, including Johnny Carson performing in his early 20s.

Sitcoms (Episode #101)

KQED World: Mon, Jan 28, 2013 -- 11:00 AM

This episode focuses on five key sitcoms: "I Love Lucy," "The Honeymooners," "Make Room for Daddy," "The Andy Griffith Show" and "The Dick Van Dyke Show." The last remaining Honeymooner, Joyce Randolph, offers surprising insights into the mind of Jackie Gleason. Similarly, Marlo Thomas speaks candidly about her father, Danny. Andy Griffith offers forceful opinions about the people and techniques that made his show work. In a rare occurrence, both Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke recount their years on "The Dick Van Dyke Show." Hundreds of episodes were culled for the most entertaining clips - including one particularly side-splitting bit by Don Knotts.

Funny Ladies (Episode #301H)

KQED World: Mon, Jan 28, 2013 -- 7:00 AM

This episode features the first standup comediennes to appear on television - legends such as Phyllis Diller and Joan Rivers. It also looks at Lucille Ball's breakthrough on "I Love Lucy" and the sitcom stars who followed, including Mary Tyler Moore, Betty White and Marla Gibbs. The episode covers television's most enduring variety star, Carol Burnett, and features interviews with contemporary actresses including Tina Fey and Margaret Cho.

Late Night (Episode #102&)

KQED World: Mon, Jan 28, 2013 -- 6:00 AM

The stories of Steve Allen, Jack Paar and Johnny Carson headline this episode about the formative years of late-night television. Merv Griffin also emerges as a key player on the late-night scene. (His interview for Pioneers was his last before passing away.) Regis Philbin offers revelations about his years as a late-night sidekick (to Joey Bishop). Dick Cavett and Arsenio Hall also discuss their years in the mix, and Sigourney Weaver offers personal details about her father, Pat - the inventor of "Tonight." The episode is peppered with dozens of never-before-seen clips, including Johnny Carson performing in his early 20s.

Sitcoms (Episode #101)

KQED World: Mon, Jan 28, 2013 -- 5:00 AM

This episode focuses on five key sitcoms: "I Love Lucy," "The Honeymooners," "Make Room for Daddy," "The Andy Griffith Show" and "The Dick Van Dyke Show." The last remaining Honeymooner, Joyce Randolph, offers surprising insights into the mind of Jackie Gleason. Similarly, Marlo Thomas speaks candidly about her father, Danny. Andy Griffith offers forceful opinions about the people and techniques that made his show work. In a rare occurrence, both Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke recount their years on "The Dick Van Dyke Show." Hundreds of episodes were culled for the most entertaining clips - including one particularly side-splitting bit by Don Knotts.

Funny Ladies (Episode #301H)

KQED 9: Tue, Jan 15, 2013 -- 8:00 PM

This episode features the first standup comediennes to appear on television - legends such as Phyllis Diller and Joan Rivers. It also looks at Lucille Ball's breakthrough on "I Love Lucy" and the sitcom stars who followed, including Mary Tyler Moore, Betty White and Marla Gibbs. The episode covers television's most enduring variety star, Carol Burnett, and features interviews with contemporary actresses including Tina Fey and Margaret Cho.

TV Technical Issues

TV

Next week, Sutro Tower will be switching most stations to their auxiliary antennas. KQED TV will be at half power on the lower
auxiliary antenna, this will affect some of our Over The Air viewers. Maintenance is scheduled on August 21-25 from 9am through
4pm daily. Thank you for your patience!

(DT9-1 thru 9-3, and DT54-1 thru 54-5) KQED experienced a major technical issue with our Virtual ID info in our signals for
DT9 and DT54, beginning apx 4pm Thursday 6/22, which was resolved apx 11am Friday 6/23. As background, almost every TV station
in the Bay Area now transmits on a frequency which is different […]

(DT25.1 through 25.3) Recent storms have taken out dozens of trees on Fremont Peak, which in turn have taken down power lines
leading to the transmission tower located on the peak. It has been running on generators for several days, and regular trips
are scheduled to re-fuel those generators with gas. However, the truck has […]